This paper describes the development of a community mental health project in a local football stadium. Funded for three years by the Laureus Foundation's 'Sport for Good' initiative, the project provides mental health promotion and mental health awareness input targeted initially at young men, a group who are often very difficult to engage in this type work. Using group interventions and utilising football as a metaphor, the project helps young men address issues around depression, self-esteem and inclusion, and addresses the subject of suicide which remains the second biggest cause of death in young men in Britain. The paper describes the development of the project, the structure of the groups and the evaluation of the first two groups to complete the process. The work takes place in the Moss Rose stadium, home of Macclesfield Town, a team in the English Football League.

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In recent years there has been a growing interest in the use of football as a vehicle for mental health interventions. This paper outlines some of the ways that mental health service providers have begun to develop strategies with football clubs, the Football Association and government departments that involve playing or watching football and placing mental health services in football clubs. The paper also looks at how some attempts are being made at regional and national levels to develop and bring together services that use football as a vehicle for mental health service delivery.